Tool bodies having heated tool faces

Abstract

Self-heated tools for the production of composite parts are described. The tools include a tool body which, at least in part, includes carbon foam materials that are electrically conductive or permeable to the passage of fluids. These materials can be both electrically conductive and permeable to the passage of fluids. The electrically conductive or fluid permeable carbon foam materials are an intrinsic part of the construction of these tool bodies and are not add-on devices. Electricity may be used to heat the electrically conductive carbon foam material and transfer heat to the tool face. In other embodiments, heated fluid may be passed through and used to heat the fluid permeable carbon foam material and transfer heat to tool body. The electrically conductive or permeable carbon foam materials may define the tool face of the tool body. The tool bodies may comprise carbon foam, which is both electrically conductive and permeable. The electrically conductive carbon foam material and the fluid permeable carbon foam material may be constructed and/or configured to apply relatively uniform heating across the surface of the tool face or in certain circumstances non-uniform heating across the surface of the tool face.

1 . A tool comprising: 
 a tool body defining a tool face and comprising an electrically conductive carbon foam material; and    electrical connections connected to one portion of the electrically conductive carbon foam material and a second portion of the electrically conductive carbon foam material.    
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source adapted to be connected to the electrical connections.  
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive carbon foam material provides substantially even heating of the tool face when current flow through the carbon foam is produced by the power source.  
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the electrically conductive carbon foam material defines the tool face.  
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool body consists essentially of carbon foam.  
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool face comprises a tool face material.  
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermostat in communication with the tool face and the power source, wherein the thermostat monitors the temperature of the tool face and adjusts the power of the power source.  
     
     
         8 . A tool comprising: 
 a tool body defining a tool face and comprising a fluid permeable carbon foam material; and    a fluid inlet port connected to one portion of the fluid permeable carbon foam material.    
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid permeable carbon foam material provides substantially even heating of the surface of the tool face when heated fluid is passed through the fluid permeable carbon foam.  
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein a surface of the fluid permeable carbon foam material defines the tool face.  
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the tool body consists essentially of carbon foam.  
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the tool face comprises a tool face material.  
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 8 , further comprising a fluid exhaust port connected to a second portion of the fluid permeable carbon foam material.  
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 8 , further comprising a pump adapted to be in fluid communication with the fluid inlet port.  
     
     
         15 . The tool of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a pump adapted to be in fluid communication with fluid inlet port; and    a heated fluid supply in fluid communication with the pump.    
     
     
         16 . The tool of  claim 15 , further comprising a thermostat in communication with the tool face and the heated fluid supply, wherein the thermostat monitors the temperature of the tool face and adjusts the temperature of the heated fluid supply.  
     
     
         17 . A tool comprising: 
 a tool body defining a tool face, wherein the tool face is substantially uniformly heated by the tool body.    
     
     
         18 . The tool of  claim 17 , wherein the tool body comprises electrically conductive carbon foam material.  
     
     
         19 . The tool of  claim 18 , wherein the electrically conductive carbon foam material provides substantially uniform heating across the tool face when current is applied to the electrically conductive carbon foam material.  
     
     
         20 . The tool of  claim 17 , wherein the tool body comprises fluid permeable carbon foam material.  
     
     
         21 . The tool of  claim 20 , wherein the fluid permeable carbon foam material provides a substantially uniform heating of the tool face when a heated fluid is passed through the fluid permeable carbon foam material.